Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Wednesday, Week three ordinary time

The Lectionary always gives us more scripture than we can reflect on in a day. With its long passages from 2 Samuel and the Mark's Gospel, today is no exception. The Sacred Scriptures are a stream. The devout go to the stream daily and several times a day to quench their thirst. We never expect to drink all of it in one visit; there is always more flowing over, under, around and through us than we can possibly ingest.

Today’s first reading from 2 Samuel is probably the most important passage in the book. After all David’s adventures – from shepherding sheep to his capture of Jerusalem – he receives an astounding promise: his heir will rule in Jerusalem forever.

As you probably know, forever is a very long time. Most of us, I suppose have some appreciation of the PAST, that it has been going on a very long time. But we tend to think the FUTURE is not so long. In fact many devout Christians believe the future will end within their lifetimes. I wonder what King David thought of as forever. He was more familiar with ancient history than many of us, because Israel was already dotted with the ruins of ancient cities. No doubt he had wondered who lived in these buildings and why did they disappear. He had spent so much energy creating and organizing his kingdom; he'd probably little time to think about its maintenance in perpetuity.

So far, David’s forever is about three thousand years, and we have seen a lot of history washing over his capital city of Jerusalem in the meanwhile. Without being a historian I can tell you the city has been leveled and rebuilt a couple of times; it has survived the rise and fall of several empires; and it has not enjoyed political independence since the fifth century before Christ.

Politically David’s kingdom survived with his own descendents ruling in Judah from approximately 1000 BC until 598 BC, which is more than 400 years. That’s a long time by American standards, but nowhere close to eternity. When the city was destroyed by the Babylonians and kingship ended, many supposed that God had either forgotten his promise or could not keep it. The rape of Jerusalem can be compared only to the Holocaust for the trauma the Jewish people felt. It was their crucifixion.

And yet the People of God, inspired by God’s Holy Spirit, waited and hoped. The young Virgin Mary – who is the New Jerusalem – daily asked God to restore the kingdom of David, and God answered her prayers. The angel Gabriel told her:

Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father, and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end."

At last, the promise to David was being fulfilled and the word forever seemed altogether possible. Tomorrow the Lectionary will give us David’s astonished response to God’s promise.

P.S. -- I appreciate any and all comments you might give me. Unlike the homily in church, there is space in the blogosphere for interaction. 

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I love to write. This blog helps me to meditate on the Word of God, and I hope to make some contribution to our contemplations of God's Mighty Works.

Ordinarily, I write these reflections two or three weeks in advance of their publication. I do not intend to comment on current events.

I understand many people prefer gender-neutral references to "God." I don't disagree with them but find that language impersonal, unappealing and tasteless. When I refer to "God" I think of the One whom Jesus called "Abba" and "Father", and I would not attempt to improve on Jesus' language.

You're welcome to add a thought or raise a question.